Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
6th Dec 2012

Descriptions of education systems in 60 countries

Nuffic – the Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education – regularly releases country modules, which offer information on the education systems of about 60 countries. Apart from a description of how education is organised in a specific country, the modules provide information about the main qualifications issued in the country, as well as how these qualifications are evaluated overseas. Each country module covers primary, secondary, and vocational schools as well as higher education. Recruiters and admission officers of institutions may find them to be a useful resource when assessing the level of foreign students applying for a programme at their institution. The country modules are also beneficial for anyone who seeks detailed information on a specific country’s education system or grading system, or examples of diplomas. Understanding the education and grading system is also useful for students who are thinking about studying abroad. Prospective students can read in detail how education is organised overseas and they can get a first impression of what their diplomas are worth. The country modules are available in English (and Dutch) and are freely accessible. They are updated regularly, with five new modules added each year. At present, the following are online: Albania, Aruba, Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Croatia, Curaçao, St. Martin and BES islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, International Baccalaureate, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. Please see the Nuffic website for all available country modules.  

Most Recent

  • Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable? Read More
  • New analysis forecasts international student mobility through 2030 Read More
  • ICEF Podcast: Why cultural intelligence is essential now Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable? A joint 4 August 2025 media release from the Ministers for Education, Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, and...
Read more
US: International commencements could drop by 30-40% this September A new analysis from NAFSA and the research consultancy JB International projects that international student commencements in the...
Read more
Nearly 30 Canadian language programmes closed in Q1, marking the “sharpest decline in the sector’s history” The peak body for Canada’s language training sector is sounding the alarm. Languages Canada reports that more than...
Read more
Recruiting in Taiwan: An established student market adapting to demographic change Fast Facts Population: 23.4 million Youth population: 9.8% aged 15–24, but the population is ageing Youth unemployment rate:...
Read more
Australia’s central bank highlights importance of international students to national economy The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country’s central bank, has released a special bulletin on the economic impact...
Read more
Measuring the impacts of the first full year of Canada’s foreign student enrolment cap In January 2024, Canada’s immigration ministry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC) announced a two-year cap on...
Read more
US institutions bracing for a challenging enrolment outlook for 2025/26 The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) twice-yearly snapshot surveys are always required reading for international educators. That is...
Read more
How the UK’s Agent Quality Framework will shape the future of agent training This article was originally published in the ICEF Academy Knowledge Hub and is reproduced here with permission. International...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links